Last year Brighton rockers British Sea Power took their audience out onto Bournemouth Pier for a memorable Performance of Man of Aran as part of the town's Arts by the Sea Festival.

For this year's reprise they went a step further.

Marking the 2014 festival's finale yesterday the band, accompanied by the assured Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra brass quintet, delighted a somewhat sodden crowd with both a musical boat trip around Poole Harbour and a typically energetic gig on Brownsea Island.

A persistent drizzle started up just as we boarded the boat and remained with us for the rest of the night, but for this reviewer at least the rain was welcome - adding a wild and windswept quality to the night and bringing the audience closer together.

Both venues were covered, the latter by a large marquee pitched outside the cafe beside the sea wall.

Although billed as a sightseeing tour, condensation limited the view from the boat's lower deck.

Nevertheless the 50 or so eager listeners paid rapt attention to the brass as - swaying in the chop - they performed a few swing classics, including Misty and Someone to Watch Over Me.

They were then joined by the band's lead singer Jan Scott Wilkinson who, clearly at ease with the somewhat improvised set up, performed acoustic versions of The Lonely and others, and Radio Goddard with the band.

There was about half an hour for the boat audience to take a quick look around their surroundings and get acquainted with the red squirrels before the gig. Much of the audience arrived at this point.

Among more recent offerings performed were numerous old favourites, and it was clear that a fair proportion of the audience were fans - some of whom had travelled a fair distance.

With the Bournemouth brass joining in where necessary, British Sea Power played for more than an hour - Loving Animals, Bear, Waving Flags, Machineries of Joy, Lights Out For Darker Skies and more - all delivered with zeal.

The event maintained a festive but at times bizarre atmosphere with several generations represented among the crowd.

BSP's brand of jangly bass-drum driven guitar rock is probably not often been enjoyed with a cup of National Trust tea too frequently in the past.

The arrival of the band's popular ursine mascot at the end was an unexpected pleasure.

British Sea Power suit the sea and once again Bournemouth and Poole have provided a fine venue to appreciate that, and perhaps a unique experience for their guests.